A player holds onto the ball against two opposition players

Session

Pressing session: pressing as a team

Session

England Football Learning

2 mins - Nov 25, 2024

Session intentions

This is week three of the pressing and tackling to win the ball session programme. Check out the whole six-week programme here.

This session aims to support players to work together as a team to win the ball back.

It will help players:

understand how and when to press
press together as a team
develop bravery and confidence to win the ball back.

If you like this idea, download the session plan and give it a go. And don't forget to share your experience on the England Football Community. We'd love to know how you got on.

Session setup

In our example, this is what we’ve used to set up this session. But adapt it to suit your team and the space available to you.

Half a pitch

12 players

Flat cones

Bibs

Mini-goals

Pressing as a team

Set up a pitch for a 3v3. It needs mini-goals at each end and a halfway line. If players press, win the ball in their opponent’s half and then score, it’s worth three goals. If they win the ball in their own half and score, it’s worth one. Set up multiple pitches if you have the players and space.
Each team has a half but must keep at least one player in each. Using only their hands, players pass the ball to keep possession. The number of seconds they have it equals their goals. They can use bounce players for support. Opponents must press, intercept, and bring the ball back to their half.
Play a small-sided game on a pitch split into thirds with goals and keepers at each end. Teams get five goals for winning the ball in the final third and scoring. Three goals for doing that from the middle third. And they get one goal for doing that from their defensive third.
Use the same pitch as the activity before. Place six footballs around the area. Each team then takes turns having six attacks. Once a goal is scored or it goes out of play, the team starts an attack with another ball. Once both teams have a go, total the scores up to see who won.

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Tactics board

Looking for a bit more detail? Check out Stacey's tactics board video for this session.

How to make it easier

Using the STEP framework (Youth Sports Trust, 2002) can help keep things fun, engaging, and appropriate.

To increase the repetition of pressing in this session, make it easier to press by using smaller pitches and playing for shorter durations. Overloading a side in any of the practices will also make it easier for them to press their opponents. Letting players choose how many can go and press in the second practice can help, too.

How to make it harder

To increase the difficulty of this session, use larger pitches so players have to cover more distance. Underloading a team in a practice will also challenge them further, as they must think more carefully about when, where, and how to press.

Coaching points

Encourage the nearest player to close down with speed to disrupt the person with the ball.

Get players to think about how they can use their body positioning to force opponents away from goal.

Challenge players to support a teammate who’s pressing so they can hunt in packs.

Increase the repetition of pressing by using match scenarios. Telling a team they’re 1-0 down with a few minutes left and need to win will encourage them to press more.

Reflect on what went well, what could have gone better, and what your players did and didn’t enjoy. Think about if there are any practices you feel players need more time on, which could be repeated at your next training session.